We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Yasamine Farshad ND, CH. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Yasamine below.
Yasamine, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I firmly believe that resilience comes from facing past failures and digging deep within to find the courage and motivation to keep pushing forward. Failure is not something to be feared or avoided. It is an opportunity for growth and improvement. Embrace it as a chance to start new, but this time, you are equipped with enhanced knowledge and resources based on the lessons you learned. You may be surprised that the outcome is better than expected this time around since you are going into the situation well prepared.
Throughout my life, I have encountered numerous areas where I experienced failure. One significant lesson came from my educational journey. With ADHD and Dyslexia, school presented unique challenges at times. There were periods when ADHD medications supported my progress. Then, I hit a point where I lost my health insurance and could not afford the medications anymore. Initially, I struggled without them. This ultimately led to failing a few classes. Needless to say, my confidence was tested. The whole situation put me under a tremendous amount of stress trying to figure out how I was going to restructure my study habits so that I could graduate. With every road block that came, I studied the situation, made necessary changes and continued until I crossed the finish line. As I started working on my health and finding the root cause of my issue, I was able to address my ADHD naturally.
These experiences taught me that as long as my mind and heart believe in the limitless possibilities, success is attainable. This realization propelled me forward, enabling me to rise once again, but this time, transformed.
When your mind is in the right place and you can envision what you want as though you have it, dreams become reality. Moreover, if others attempt to discourage you from pursuing your dreams (a scenario I faced at times), use their doubts to fuel your determination. Additional tools that helped me become resilient were spirituality, meditation, prayer and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
As a child and young adult, I was quite unhealthy, and would get sick often. I would visit the doctor regularly for a variety of reasons but it wasn’t until I lost my health insurance in my early twenties that I panicked. How was I going to afford going to the doctor, medications or an emergency? I had actually answered my own question. I could not afford to, both literally and metaphorically speaking.
Life has a way of guiding us towards our purpose through unexpected circumstances. This experience is what introduced me to the philosophies of naturopathic medicine which states that the body has an innate intelligence and ability to heal itself when its provided the proper foods, nutrients and lifestyle choices. The more I researched, the more I learned I had to change these habits if I wanted to keep myself healthy and out of the doctor’s office. This took some time and a lot of trial and error as I listened to my body and what it needed from me to get healthier. Once my health started to improve, I was hooked on natural wellness. From that moment, I knew I wanted to help others naturally achieve their health goals as well.
As mentioned previously, my experience with learning how to manage my health and ADHD naturally was one of the most impactful journeys of my life. It took some time but I learned that my body needed certain nutrients and elimination of foods to improve my symptoms. I had started working at a holistic wellness center that helped me address my diet and nutrient deficiencies and provided me with an incredible foundation for naturopathic nutritional knowledge.
Watching my health (and the health of our clients) improve only solidified my life purpose. I committed to my dream and applied to naturopathic medical school. After graduating from an accredited naturopathic medical school in Arizona, I served as the Director of Education for Wise Woman Herbals, where I had the privilege of sharing my expertise on product development and private label consulting. Additionally, I taught clinical courses at an herbalism school, inspiring others to embrace the remarkable benefits of natural healing.
Today, I am a proud owner of a thriving nutritional wellness practice that utilizes bioenergetic testing to assist both local and long-distance clients. My specialization lies in providing tailored nutritional solutions for various health concerns, including digestive issues, food sensitivities, chronic stress, weight and wellness management, inflammation and ADHD, among others. To complement my practice, I offer a range of additional services such as supervised detoxifications, food sensitivity testing, hair tissue metal and mineral testing, microbiome analysis, and omega-3 testing. This comprehensive approach serves as an ideal starting point for individuals looking to start their health journey or those already on a path to well-being who need some extra fine-tuning to their current plan.
With each client, my goal is to instill hope, empower individuals to take charge of their health, and provide them with the knowledge and tools to embark on a transformative wellness journey.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
There are three skills that have had a profound impact on my personal journey:
1. Figuring Out and Documenting Your “Why”:
Back in my first year of medical school, we had this assignment where we had to write an essay about why we wanted to become naturopathic doctors. At the beginning of any journey, you have a clear vision, but along the way, you face obstacles, detours, and distractions that make you question everything. These are the moments that truly test your determination and commitment to turning your dreams into reality. I can’t even count the number of times I thought about giving up during tough times. However, deep down, I knew that I wouldn’t feel fulfilled unless I pursued this path. Whenever I felt down, I would go back to my “why” and remind myself of my purpose, reigniting the fire within me to keep going.
2. Mapping Out Your “How”:
Once you’ve discovered your purpose, it’s vital to create a comprehensive plan that outlines everything from start to finish. Write down all the necessary steps, like financial considerations, training requirements, available resources, and the support you’ll need from others. Having everything on paper makes the journey less overwhelming, and whenever you face challenges or feel stuck, you can always refer back to your plan. It acts as a compass, guiding you through obstacles and helping you stay on track toward achieving your goals.
3. Embracing Your Imperfections:
When you have dreams and aspirations, that little voice in your head might come up with reasons to discourage you or hold you back. Instead of viewing those reasons as roadblocks, try exploring their deeper meanings. Let’s take the common struggle of procrastination, for example. Many people see it as a negative trait, but there could be underlying factors influencing someone’s procrastination. It might be the fear of taking on more responsibilities or the discomfort of confronting potential shortcomings. Personally, with my ADHD, I would sometimes procrastinate studying because I was afraid of realizing that I didn’t understand certain topics as well as my classmates. It might sound strange, but we all have reasons for our behaviors and self-imposed limitations. This is often driven by a subconscious desire to protect ourselves. Once we identify the deeper issue, we can address it. By doing so we get to know ourselves better and may be resolving other issues that may be triggered by our subconscious trying to keep us in a “safe zone”.
The best advice I can give to anyone starting their own journey is to never give up. Even when things look tough, don’t use it as an excuse to throw in the towel. When you truly believe in the possibility and can envision yourself achieving your desires, life has a remarkable way of aligning circumstances to support you. Don’t let temporary discomfort derail your dreams. You don’t want to look back on your life with regret, knowing you abandoned your aspirations due to a temporary challenge. Stay strong, stay determined, and keep pushing forward, knowing that you have what it takes to make your dreams a reality.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
I think the number one challenge in the health and wellness industry is getting people to change old habits. A statement I hear often is “I have been doing this for years and I am still alive”. Habits are deeply ingrained patterns of behavior that have become automatic and familiar over time. Breaking away from these ingrained habits requires conscious effort and persistence. There may be emotional attachments or comfort associated with familiar habits, making it difficult to let them go. Many times, these habits may be associated with a life event or past trauma. People often encounter resistance and discomfort when trying to adopt new habits, as change can disrupt routines and require adjustments to daily life or just feel unsafe on a subconscious level. Lack of support or peer influence can also impact a person’s ability to make or maintain new habits.
A lack of awareness or understanding about the impact of certain habits on health may also contribute to resistance towards change. Overcoming these barriers require patience and support. Taking small steps when making changes also puts less stress on the individual. Try to highlight the benefits of these changes while taking it slow and be aware when the mind starts to convince you to go back to old habits. It may be a sign that other deeper issues need to be addressed.
As a wellness practitioner, it is very important to listen and understand a person’s reasoning for their beliefs or habits, have compassion for their situation and educate them on the benefits making healthier choices. A major principle in naturopathic medicine is “Docere” which means doctor as teacher. If you give people the data and resources for them to make their own educated opinion, it is much more meaningful when they make those changes on their own.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yasaminefarshad.com
- Instagram: @yasamine_herbal_wellness
